Asus promises to open Prime bootloader

Blames current encryption on Google and DRM

Asus has pledged to release a tool that will unlock the bootloader built into its Eee Pad Transformer Prime tablet, possibly from 12 January, the date on which it will be pushing out the gadget's Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update.

As a result, the video rental service app bundled with the Prime will break when the promised bootloader unlock utility is applied, Asus said, as will any other service that relies upon Google DRM.

Before the ICS update, Asus pull push out a patch for the current version of the OS, it said, which will "improve the focus of the camera, the fluidity of the touch experience, and the APK capabilities in Android Market".